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MOUNT VERNON, Ind. — Everything about the swimming career of Ozzy Jankowski fits the 'late bloomer' narrative.
The Mount Vernon High School senior was introduced to the water at a very young age. But his mother, an All-American and three-time MAC champion, refused to be the parent who pushed the sport onto her child. The spark needed to come naturally, if at all.
There then reached a point where Jankowski was begging to swim competitively. That was seventh grade. A true late start.
It hasn't stopped a continual, meteoric rise which puts him in a position to achieve a special weekend.
More: These Evansville area athletes advanced to the IHSAA boys swimming state finals
Jankowski enters the Indiana High School Athletic Association state finals on Friday, Jan. 27 as a top contender in two events: the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. Mount Vernon has never had an individual state champion in program history.
"He has been laying a foundation for 2 1/2 years," Erinn Jankowski, his coach and mother, said. "It’s not something people notice unless you’re in swim land. It’s that steady, continual progress and climb. What people are seeing now is what has been worked toward for 2 1/2 years. That’s been the game plan. Be ready for this stage and this time."
It's impressive how this has come about been in a relatively short time from the outside.
Jankowski didn't start competitive swimming until seventh grade. His only prior experience was Howell Park rec teams for fun. He also broke his arm in a "freak accident" in eighth grade, resulting in crucial missed time. The foundation was quickly laid once he reached high school. The results have been incrementally better each year.
His best sectional finish as a freshman was seventh. Second as a sophomore. A three-time sectional champion and state qualifier as a junior. Jankowski has taken it another level further this winter as evident by his latest tournament success.
More: Where is each Evansville-area professional baseball player for the 2026 season?
The senior earned three sectional titles (48.63 seconds in the 100 fly, 49.96 in the 100 back, 1:29.71 in the 200 freestyle relay) and set meet records in both individual events. The backstroke mark had been held for 26 years by United States Olympian Bryce Hunt. The times qualified him for All-American consideration and the Winter Junior National in the butterfly.
"Each year, I’ve improved a good amount," he said. "When I get in that atmosphere, it’s really easy to dig in another level. I’m looking forward to meeting some of my rivals that I haven’t seen in a while around Indy."
What has elevated him into the highest tier this season might be his mindset.
Erinn Jankowski, a four-time state finalist at Richmond before a decorated college career with Ball State and competed in the 2000 Olympic Trials, has seen the whole progression. Her son is inquisitive and curious. Always willing to put in the effort but also always "pushes the driver's seat" himself. Remember, his mother wanted the basis for swimming to be pure enjoyment.
Jankowski is seeded first in the 100 butterfly and second in the 100 backstroke this weekend.
"He’s very consistent," she said. "I feel like all of his experiences and training progression, he is super locked in. He meal preps per his request. He’s always asking for the extra practice. He knows what he wants. Ozzy had some of the fastest times in the state, consistently performing it.
"He has been putting himself in position to know his competitors. They’ve seen him coming. He has earned it."
The physical and mental stamina required for competitive swimming, at least at the level in which the senior competes, isn't for the weak. Therein might lie the key for this consistent rise of the last four years. A typical day in the life of Ozzy Jankowski goes as follows:
The most important lesson from the entire experience? Delayed gratification. Nothing happens overnight and takes the right preparation to achieve a goal. Jankowski is also an Academic All-American, a National Honor Society member and an Eagle Scout. He recently signed to swim next year at Wabash College and study pre-law.
"A lot of internal motivation," Jankowski said. "The meets and medals aren’t really what motivates me. I really like seeing the small growth every single day. When I do a little bit better than a week or day before, that gives me a big smile when I’m driving across town."
The path has led to Indianapolis for his final high school meet. His times throughout the season firmly place him in contention for a state championship (or two). Only the 200 freestyle relay team in 1998 brought home a blue medal to Mount Vernon boys swimming. He'll compete in that event too alongside teammates Camas O'Daniel, Colton Gentry and Clayton Green.
There are several factors out of his control, chiefly how his competitors will fare. Will the atmosphere affect his race? Jankowski knows part of the game plan is to "stay in your lane" and lock in on himself. Where the true goal lies though isn't a specific spot on the podium. He's aiming for time standards to qualify for Summer Junior Nationals.
"That cut time is the Holy Grail of my season," Jankowski said. "My placement, if I’m able to go that time, will come with that. If I went the time I was seeded and got first, that wouldn’t bring me as much joy as if I got second with the time."
It's been a rewarding experience for mother and son, regardless of the end result on Saturday. Four straight years of practices and too many dinner conversations to count. "My husband is a saint. He’s living it 24/7," Erinn said. She also wouldn't trade that time away for anything.
National Signing Day: Here are the Southwestern Indiana high school athletes signing in 2025-26 school year
She's seen a different side of her son these last four years. That journey could result in a state champion.
"To see him shine in his element and in a leadership position," Erinn Jankowski said. "Those small moments that I never would get the opportunity to have if I wasn’t his coach has been a blessing. It’s not easy. There are difficult days and times to be very intentional at leaving swimming in its place. Other times, we're being both passionate about it. We can have those conversations. It’s a wonderful connection."
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: How Ozzy Jankowski became an IHSAA swimming state finals contender
Continue reading...
The Mount Vernon High School senior was introduced to the water at a very young age. But his mother, an All-American and three-time MAC champion, refused to be the parent who pushed the sport onto her child. The spark needed to come naturally, if at all.
There then reached a point where Jankowski was begging to swim competitively. That was seventh grade. A true late start.
It hasn't stopped a continual, meteoric rise which puts him in a position to achieve a special weekend.
More: These Evansville area athletes advanced to the IHSAA boys swimming state finals
Jankowski enters the Indiana High School Athletic Association state finals on Friday, Jan. 27 as a top contender in two events: the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. Mount Vernon has never had an individual state champion in program history.
"He has been laying a foundation for 2 1/2 years," Erinn Jankowski, his coach and mother, said. "It’s not something people notice unless you’re in swim land. It’s that steady, continual progress and climb. What people are seeing now is what has been worked toward for 2 1/2 years. That’s been the game plan. Be ready for this stage and this time."
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It's impressive how this has come about been in a relatively short time from the outside.
Jankowski didn't start competitive swimming until seventh grade. His only prior experience was Howell Park rec teams for fun. He also broke his arm in a "freak accident" in eighth grade, resulting in crucial missed time. The foundation was quickly laid once he reached high school. The results have been incrementally better each year.
His best sectional finish as a freshman was seventh. Second as a sophomore. A three-time sectional champion and state qualifier as a junior. Jankowski has taken it another level further this winter as evident by his latest tournament success.
More: Where is each Evansville-area professional baseball player for the 2026 season?
The senior earned three sectional titles (48.63 seconds in the 100 fly, 49.96 in the 100 back, 1:29.71 in the 200 freestyle relay) and set meet records in both individual events. The backstroke mark had been held for 26 years by United States Olympian Bryce Hunt. The times qualified him for All-American consideration and the Winter Junior National in the butterfly.
"Each year, I’ve improved a good amount," he said. "When I get in that atmosphere, it’s really easy to dig in another level. I’m looking forward to meeting some of my rivals that I haven’t seen in a while around Indy."
What has elevated him into the highest tier this season might be his mindset.
Erinn Jankowski, a four-time state finalist at Richmond before a decorated college career with Ball State and competed in the 2000 Olympic Trials, has seen the whole progression. Her son is inquisitive and curious. Always willing to put in the effort but also always "pushes the driver's seat" himself. Remember, his mother wanted the basis for swimming to be pure enjoyment.
Jankowski is seeded first in the 100 butterfly and second in the 100 backstroke this weekend.
"He’s very consistent," she said. "I feel like all of his experiences and training progression, he is super locked in. He meal preps per his request. He’s always asking for the extra practice. He knows what he wants. Ozzy had some of the fastest times in the state, consistently performing it.
"He has been putting himself in position to know his competitors. They’ve seen him coming. He has earned it."
The physical and mental stamina required for competitive swimming, at least at the level in which the senior competes, isn't for the weak. Therein might lie the key for this consistent rise of the last four years. A typical day in the life of Ozzy Jankowski goes as follows:
- 5 a.m. wake up with his bag, outfit and breakfast prepared the previous night.
- 90-minute practice at Mount Vernon followed by a 90-minute lift.
- Core 40 classes at MV followed by a drive to Harrison High School for advanced classes as part of the Randall T. Shepard Leadership and Law Academy.
- A drive back to Mount Vernon for another two-hour afternoon practice.
The most important lesson from the entire experience? Delayed gratification. Nothing happens overnight and takes the right preparation to achieve a goal. Jankowski is also an Academic All-American, a National Honor Society member and an Eagle Scout. He recently signed to swim next year at Wabash College and study pre-law.
"A lot of internal motivation," Jankowski said. "The meets and medals aren’t really what motivates me. I really like seeing the small growth every single day. When I do a little bit better than a week or day before, that gives me a big smile when I’m driving across town."
You must be registered for see images attach
The path has led to Indianapolis for his final high school meet. His times throughout the season firmly place him in contention for a state championship (or two). Only the 200 freestyle relay team in 1998 brought home a blue medal to Mount Vernon boys swimming. He'll compete in that event too alongside teammates Camas O'Daniel, Colton Gentry and Clayton Green.
There are several factors out of his control, chiefly how his competitors will fare. Will the atmosphere affect his race? Jankowski knows part of the game plan is to "stay in your lane" and lock in on himself. Where the true goal lies though isn't a specific spot on the podium. He's aiming for time standards to qualify for Summer Junior Nationals.
"That cut time is the Holy Grail of my season," Jankowski said. "My placement, if I’m able to go that time, will come with that. If I went the time I was seeded and got first, that wouldn’t bring me as much joy as if I got second with the time."
It's been a rewarding experience for mother and son, regardless of the end result on Saturday. Four straight years of practices and too many dinner conversations to count. "My husband is a saint. He’s living it 24/7," Erinn said. She also wouldn't trade that time away for anything.
National Signing Day: Here are the Southwestern Indiana high school athletes signing in 2025-26 school year
She's seen a different side of her son these last four years. That journey could result in a state champion.
"To see him shine in his element and in a leadership position," Erinn Jankowski said. "Those small moments that I never would get the opportunity to have if I wasn’t his coach has been a blessing. It’s not easy. There are difficult days and times to be very intentional at leaving swimming in its place. Other times, we're being both passionate about it. We can have those conversations. It’s a wonderful connection."
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: How Ozzy Jankowski became an IHSAA swimming state finals contender
Continue reading...
